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St. John’s wort was initially an European plant that has migrated to other countries. It’s mainly a yellow flower with five petals and leaves with tiny white spots. It mainly acts as a weed, which means it takes over areas where it’s been introduced. Because it grows fast and is hearty, St. John’s wort is plentiful, which helps keep its price down.

Why someone decided it could do so many things isn’t known. The main thing it’s used for is to fight depression. It can be in tablet, capsule, or turned into a tea. But that’s not all. It’s been said to help stop smoking, help people lose weight, reduce neuronal degeneration from Parkinson’s Disease, stop alcoholism, alleviate migraines, help nerve pain, and reduce menopause pain. There are also 15 other things it’s been said to help, along with other supplements.

There are also contraindications to using St. John’s wort. Beyond the fact that it can kill the effectiveness of many prescription drugs, which means if you’re taking any you should talk to your physician first, it’s also been known to cause dry mouth, dizziness, diarrhea, insomnia, fatigue, and headaches to name a few. A biggie for some people might be a decreased sex drive.

But does St. John’s wort work? It depends on who you ask. Based on studies of studies, it was found that 8 of 11 German studies found that patients did show positive signs of relief from depression after using the herb. However, 8 non-German studies showed that St. John’s wort did nothing whatsoever. In a few of those instances, it ranked much lower than the placebo. It didn’t cause any harm, except for reducing the effectiveness of prescription medication for those patients on it.

Oddly enough, some studies found that St. John’s wort was as effective at treating depression as many anti-depressants on the market, which St. John’s wort marketers use as a positive, while others view as an indictment against most anti-depressants, which don’t alter brain chemistry all that much to begin with.

In the end, this one is, at best, a push, so the consumer can decide whether they want to spend their money on it or not.

See more:
St. John’s Wort for Depression
Drugs.com – St. John’s Wort Medical Facts
St. Johns Wort Uses, Dosage & Side Effects